The author describes a classroom exercise that introduces the Socialist Calculation Debate (SCD) to undergraduate economics students. The SCD concerns an issue that remains one of the most consequential of the 20th century--the belief in the superiority of socialism and central planning over capitalism and the free market. The exercise presents…

In this study, we attempt to determine the extent to which students enrolled in economic courses benefit from extensive use of modern technology based teaching/learning tools such as electronic slide presentations. Our results are mixed. We find more support for the traditional teaching pedagogies as compared to what is being customarily used in…

The lack of adequate background and/or preparation, among other things, causes many students to withdraw from college or to graduate with low grades, which often makes it difficult for them to obtain suitable jobs. This paper examines the academic performance and efforts to seek assistance for academic and related problems of undergraduate…

A sample of 347 students, enrolled in principles of economics classes during the period 1997-2001, is used to examine the relation between class attendance and student performance on examinations. Among the questions examined are: Is attendance related to performance, with and without controls for other factors? Do only substantial levels of…

Discusses problems of measuring student learning using the Test of Understanding in College Economics (TUCE). Suggests that replacing TUCE questions with poor statistical validity will provide a better index of cognitive achievement. Describes results of a University of Notre Dame study which altered the TUCE to reflect course content. (KC)

This paper examines how differences in curricular design of undergraduate accounting programs influence pass rates on the Business Environment and Concepts Section of the CPA Exam. The association of the pass rate of a school's accounting graduates to the design of the schools accounting program and to other school characteristics was examined…

Although academic ability is the most important explanatory variable in studies of student learning, researchers control for it with a wide array and combinations of proxies. The authors investigated how the proxy choice affects estimates of undergraduate student learning by testing over 150 specifications of a single model, each including a…

Indicates that profiles of undergraduate students are valuable as aids in the recruitment of high school students, the identification and counseling of undecided undergraduates who may be suited for a home economics program, and the advising of declared home economics majors. (JOW)

Results of a study at the University of Western Ontario indicate that introductory economics students who had taken an economics course in high school did not begin their principles course with significantly more knowledge or learn significantly more during the semester. They received significantly lower grades than those who had not previously…

The debate format as discussed here is built around the theory that the teacher can increase the benefits of the traditional lecture format by using debate as a complementary tool and by fully integrating the two formats. The aim of the authors' integrative approach runs on two levels: one is to make debate a streamlined, integral part of course…

In the standard scoring procedure for multiple-choice exams, students must choose exactly one response as correct. Often students may be unable to identify the correct response, but can determine that some of the options are incorrect. This partial knowledge is not captured in the standard scoring format. The Coombs elimination procedure is an…

Employs a classroom version of the research game, the Ultimatum Game, to teach undergraduate students how fairness affects behavior. Focuses on three concepts related to fairness. Finds that classroom results motivate discussion about a downward sloping demand curve for fairness. Provides an appendix that includes instructional materials. (JEH)

Examined the effect of demographic characteristics, academic endowments, course preparation, and course performance variables on the accuracy of pretest expectations when asking students to predict their performance on a regularly scheduled macroeconomics midterm examination. Finds overconfidence and misjudgments about the scope of the midterm…

A social issues-related economics course is more crucial than ever for baccalaureate social work students. Understanding the economic system and its relationship to poverty, health care, crime, and other social issues can empower BSW students to more effectively assist and advocate for their clients. This article (1) examines the rationale for…

Undergraduate and graduate university students reveal the strengths and weaknesses in their economic and consumer economic educational backgrounds. The more recent exposure to and involvement in economic studies appears to instill a distinct confidence. (CT)